The world junior, for years, has been called a 19-year-olds’ tournament — that is, the expectation is that players that age should be the ones dominating — but it doesn’t mean others can’t dominate, as draft-eligible players are capable of starring in the event.

Drafted or not, the following are 10 players who could bring observers to the edge of their seats once the tournament in Malmo, Sweden, begins on Boxing Day:

Jonathan Drouin, F, Canada

Draft: No. 3 by Tampa Bay in 2013

Skinny: Many figured Drouin would be in the NHL this season after he was the Quebec league’s MVP a year ago and led the Halifax Mooseheads to a Memorial Cup. But the Lightning decided the prudent route was best, and Drouin certainly picked up where he left off, averaging more than two points a game in the QMJHL. Canada has many weapons on offence, and now that Drouin has recovered from a concussion, expect him to lead.

Mikhail Grigorenko, F, Russia

Draft: No. 12 by Buffalo in 2012

Skinny: The Sabres are keeping their fingers crossed that Grigorenko can get his act together in Malmo. The kid has talent and in a perfect world would be flourishing under Ted Nolan in Buffalo. But he has just eight points (three goals and five assists) in 43 games for Buffalo in two seasons, and is unable to get any traction in the NHL. If Grigorenko plays with effort, he will be a threat on every shift.

Riley Barber, F, United States

Draft: No. 167 by Washington in 2012

Skinny: If the depleted American side has any hope of returning to the podium in defence of their gold medal, Barber is going to have to do what comes habitually for him. A native of Pittsburgh, Barber had six points in the tournament for the U.S. last winter and has been excellent for Miami (Ohio) University, recording 28 points (11 goals and 17 assists) in 18 games.

Sam Reinhart, F, Canada

Draft: Eligible in 2014

Skinny: NHL scouts like to judge a player on his full body of work, and everywhere else, Reinhart has performed above the level set by his peers. The favourite to be the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft in June (though Canada teammate Aaron Ekblad will give him a run), Reinhart now should get a long look on the world junior stage. And he will have a rare opportunity to play with older brother Griffin.

Andrei Vasilevski, G, Russia

Draft: No. 19 in 2012 by Tampa Bay

Skinny: The Lightning’s goalie of the future has been putting up solid numbers for Ufa Salavat in the KHL, posting a .923 save percentage in 19 games in his second season with the club. It’s hard to argue with experience in goal, and Vasilevski had the best statistics in the 2013 world junior after John Gibson of the United States, who was the tournament MVP. He could be a difference maker.

Connor McDavid, F, Canada

Draft: Eligible 2015

Skinny: Forget everything you know about 16-year-old players. McDavid is somewhere far off by himself. The sixth 16-year-old to play for Canada in the world junior, it’s unlikely McDavid will match the 17 points in six games Wayne Gretzky had at 16 in 1978. But he should fare better than Sidney Crosby (five points), Eric Lindros (four points) and Jason Spezza (two points) did at the same age.

Oscar Dansk, G, Sweden

Draft: No. 31 by Columbus in 2012

Skinny: After backing up during Sweden’s silver-medal winning side last winter, Dansk should get the No. 1 job, though he will be pushed by Marcus Hogberg. The Erie Otters have been ruling the Ontario Hockey League with an iron fist, and not just because of McDavid, Dane Fox and Connor Brown. Dansk has been superb with four shutouts as well as a league-best 2.17 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage and 16 victories.

Jon Gillies, G, United States

Draft: No. 75 by Calgary in 2012

Skinny: It would be rather hard to duplicate what John Gibson did in goal for the Americans at the 2013 world junior, not that we are expecting Gillies to do so. Still, Gillies will have to be at his best in order for the U.S. to have any hope of repeating. And so far this season with Providence College, he has been at his best, posting a .941 save percentage and a 1.88 goals-against average in 15 games.

Elias Lindholm, F, Sweden

Draft: No. 5 by Carolina in 2013

Skinny: In 21 games with the Hurricanes, the 19-year-old Lindholm has seven points and is averaging 11 minutes 58 seconds of ice time a game. But Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford is of the mind, like many of his colleagues, that world junior experience will benefit. What’s more, Lindholm will join a Sweden team that will have lots of depth after taking the silver medal last winter in Ufa.

Kasperi Kapanen, F, Finland

Draft: Eligible 2014

Skinny: Kapanen’s stock has slipped a bit in the first few months of the season, but he remains on track to be a first-round pick, possibly in the first half of the round. Not only is his father former NHL forward Sami Kapanen, but the two are teammates with Kuopio in Finland, a team the elder Kapanen owns with Philadelphia defenceman Kimmo Timonen. Scouts are eager to see what he does on this stage.

Ten players who could be game-changers in Malmo

The world junior, for years, has been called a 19-year-olds’ tournament — that is, the expectation is that players that age should be the ones dominating — but it doesn’t mean others can’t dominate, as draft-eligible players are capable of starring in the event.

Drafted or not, the following are 10 players who could bring observers to the edge of their seats once the tournament in Malmo, Sweden, begins on Boxing Day:

Jonathan Drouin, F, Canada

Draft: No. 3 by Tampa Bay in 2013

Skinny: Many figured Drouin would be in the NHL this season after he was the Quebec league’s MVP a year ago and led the Halifax Mooseheads to a Memorial Cup.